Do you often find yourself experiencing stomach hyperacidity and excessive burping? Or have you been diagnosed to have Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Stomach or Duodenal Ulcer or Erosive Esophagitis? A drug called Nexium can be the answer to those symptoms and diseases.

What is Nexium and what is it for?

Nexium is the trademark name for esomeprazole magnesium for oral capsules and esomeprazol trihydrate for oral suspension. . It is indicated for the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, risk reduction of NSAID-associated Gastric Ulcer, eradication of H.pylori caused Duodenal Ulcer (together with amoxicillin and clarithromycin) and treatment of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.

What is the available dosage ?

In the United States Nexium is available in delayed-release capsules, delayed-released type oral suspension and in Australia in delayed-release tablets.

Delayed-released capsule type is available in the following dosage form:

• 
  20 mg


• 
  40mg

Delayed-released oral suspension type is available in the following dosage form:

• 
  10 mg


• 
  20 mg


• 
  40 mg

Both capsule and tablet preparations are enteric-coated, meaning it has multiple-unit pellet system (MUPS) to avoid rapid degradation of the drugs in the acidic conditions in the stomach.

Nexium capsule should be swallowed whole. It should not be chewed or crushed. For patients with nasogastric tube, capsules can be opened and the intact granules emptied into a 60 ml catheter tipped syringe and mixed with 50 ml water. Do not administer the granules if they have dissolved or disintegrated.

Nexium Oral Suspension should be administered as follows:

1. 
   Empty the contents into 1 tablespoon of water


2. 
   Stir


3. 
   Leave 2-3 minutes to thicken


4. 
   Stir and drink within 30 minutes


5. 
   If any material remains after drinking, add more water and drink immediately

Your doctor will prescribe the right dosage, depending its specific indication. It should be taken on an empty stomach, one hour prior to meal.

What are the possible side effects of Nexium?

You may develop the following Nexium side effects:

• 
  Headache


• 
  Diarrhea


• 
  Nausea


• 
  Gas


• 
  Decreased appetite


• 
  Constipation


• 
  Dry mouth


• 
  Abdominal pain


• 
  Allergic reactions


• 
  Chest pain


• 
  Dark urine


• 
  Fast heartbeat


• 
  Fever


• 
  Paresthesia


• 
  Persistent sore throat


• 
  Severe stomach pain


• 
  Unusual bruising and bleeding


• 
  Unusual tiredness


• 
  Yellowing of the skin and eyes

Do not take Nexium with the following medications:

• 
  Diazepam


• 
  Warfarin


• 
  Clopidogrel


• 
  Ketoconazole


• 
  Atazanavir


• 
  Erythromycin

What are Nexium’s Generic Equivalent Names?

Esomeprazol is manufactured on the following trademark names other than Nexium:

• 
  Sompraz


• 
  Zoleri


• 
  Lucen


• 
  Esopral


• 
  Axagon (Italy)


• 
  Nexiam (Belgium and South Africa)

Nexium’s generic available date is on May 2014.

In Summary:

For patients with severe attacks of hyperacidity, GERD, Erosive Esophagitis, Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, seek your doctor for the right dosage of Nexium. You take it with an empty stomach, one hour prior to meal. Take this medication with caution as several side effects have been noted.

If you want to know about Nexium, click the video below.